This course will address the artist as critic and how writing about the work of others can help you to acquire a better understanding of your own studio practice and reasons for making art. We will visit galleries and museums and write short reviews that will be discussed in class, and examine current and past art criticism in print and online. Students will experiment with different styles and forms of writing, as well as learn how to make what they write more compelling to read. Each student will also write about his or her own work in the form of an artist's statement, a crucial piece of writing that can be used for grants, residencies, studio visits and exhibitions. Most sessions will include field trips to galleries or museums.